Facsimile recorder



March 19, 1957 S. P. CLURMAN FACSIMILE RECORDER Filed June 50, 1953 INVEN TOR.

STANLEY P. CLURMAN A 7'TORNE) United States Patent FACSIMILE RECORDER Stanley P. Clurman, New York, N. Y., assignor to Faximile, 1110., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application June 30, 1953, Serial No. 365,154

21 Claims. (Cl. 346-101) This invention relates to the art of facsimile recording and particularly concerns apparatus employed therein.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a recorder employing a multiturn helix as one recording electrode.

It is a further object to provide a facsimile recorder employing a turn selecting means for a multiturn helical electrode operated in association with a flexible electrode.

The invention will be best understood from the following description taken together with the drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a schematic showing of one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional View of an electrode arrangement usable in the embodiment of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3A, 3B are fragmentary cross sectional and side views-oi another electrode arrangement.

Figs. 4, 7, 8, 9 are schematic showings of other embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 5' is a cross section of the electrodes shown in Fig. 4.

Figs. 6, 7A show modified electrode arrangements.

In conventional facsimile recorders employing a single turn helical electrode and a linear printer bar electrode, copy is reproduced by drawing recording paper between the electrodes as the helical electrode is rotated in coordination with the movement of the paper. The paper is marked electrically or electro-chemically at the area of contact in accordance with electrical signals transmitted to the electrodes from a facsimile signal transmitter. In order to obtain optimum definition of recording, it is necessary that the area of contact approach as closely as possible to a square or rectangle. The angle of intersection of the electrodes must therefore approach 90 degrees. When a single turn helix wound on a drum of usual practical proportions is employed in association with a straight linear electrode, the pitch of the helix is such that the angle of intersection is approximately 45 degrees and the area of contact is a parallelogram. In order to reduce the long diagonal of the parallelogram it has been proposed to employ a multiturn helix in association with a rigid linear electrode, the linear electrode being moved in a predetermined path by suitable cams to contact successive portions of the helix throughout its length, as disclosed in copending application of Walter Lupish, Serial Number 343,703, filed March 20, 1953. In the present invention it is proposed to employ a multiturn helix in association with a flexible linear electrode actuated by a suitable turn selecting means to cause the linear electrode to contact successive portions. of the helix throughout its length. The use of a multiturn helix permits facsimile copy of time definition to be recorded with a helix of relatively small diameter. A helix having a single turn as employed in conventional recorders would have to be, Of prohibitively large diameter to produce copy of the same fine definition and of the same width. The present invention employs a turn selecting mechanism which permits recording with a minimum amount of irregularity of movement of the linear electrode with respect to the helix so that distortion of area of contact is avoided and uniform fineness of definition of recorded copy is maintained.

In Fig. l is shown diagrammatically a recorder provided with a drum 11 on which is mounted a multiturn helical electrode 12. The drum is arranged for rotation on a shaft 13 and is driven by a suitable motor. A spool 14 carries a supply of steel wire 15. The wire is strung through friction drag elements 16, 17 and over a grooved idler pulley 18. This idler pulley is carried in a spring loaded floating mounting which maintains tension in the wire. The wire is passed over a trolley carrier 19 carrying two grooved trolley wheels 20, 21. The wire then passes over grooved idler pulley 22 and is wound up on spool 23 driven by a suitable motor. The trolley 19 is mounted 'on a belt 24 which is carried by sprocket wheels 25, 26. These wheels are provided with teeth 27 which fit into corresponding holes in the belt 24. Instead of a metal belt as shown, a toothed rubber belt carried by suitable sprocket wheels may be used. The belt carries a plurality of trolleys, but at least two should be used. All of the trolleys are identical and contact in turn a portion of a substantially straight section of wire 15 disposed near the multiturn helical electrode. In operation as a recorder a recording sheet must be interposed between the helical electrode 12 and the linear section of electrode 15, and suitable electrical signals must be applied to the electrodes to mark the recording sheet in a manner well known in the art. To effect recording of successive lines of facsimile copy, the recording sheet is advanced at a predetermined speed between the electrodes. The belt 24 is driven in coordination with the drum 11 as indicated by the dotted line M so that the point of contact between each trolley 19 and wire 15 moves in a path parallel to shaft 13 and to the axis of helix 12, while the point of contact between wire 15 and helix 12 moves continuously from end to end of the helix. The straight section of wire 15 is normally spaced from helix 12 and is pressed into contact with helix 12 by each trolley 19 in turn. Thus selective contact is made at each instant with a desired point on one turn of the multiturn helix. The helix 12 must be rotated at a speed of N times the desired line scanning speed, where N is the number of turns of the helix while the belt 24 is driven at the line scanning speed so that each of the successive trolleys 19 will travel the length of drum 12 once during the recording of each line. The wire 15 is moved independently of the helix 12 and belt 24 by its own driving means so that the wire is slowly wound up on spool 23. Thus as the wire 15 is eroded by wear it is continually renewed. if desired the linear electrode 15 can be arranged as an endless band indicated by dotted line L carried by wheels 14, 23 and driven in coordination with belt 24 and drum 11.

In Fig. 2 is shown a pair of stationary rails 30, 31. These rails may be provided to prevent wobble of the pulleys 20, 21 as they contact wire 15. The rails 30, 31 should extend the entire length of drum 11 and be mounted above belt 24 parallel to the axis of the drum to contact only the uppermost sides of the trolley pulleys 20, 21. A recording sheet 28 is shown disposed between the wire electrode 15 and helical electrode 12 and is marked at the area of contact of the two electrodes. The recording sheet is moved in coordination with drum 11 and belt 24 to effect continuous recording. The rails 30, 31 can serve as a convenient means for applying electrical signals to be recorded to the wire 15. The Pulley 2.0 is provided with a suitable groove in which rides wire 15. The top. of wire 15 extends above the sides of the pulley to conlength of the helix 12 in contact therewith.

helix 12 with the recording sheet 28 therebetween. A freely turning bearing 32 is provided for each trolley pulley which rotates on fixed spindle 33 carried by trolley 19.

In Figs. 3A,-3B is shown a metal slide block 34 which may be used instead of the trolley pulleys 20, 21. The block 34 has a pair of grooved arms 37, 38 and a depressed center portion 36. Wire rides in the grooves in arms 37, 38 as the block 34 is carried along by belt 24. The depressed center portion 36 provides a small space under wire 15 between arms 37, 38. The block 34 may also be provided with guide rails 30, 31 which fit into grooves in the block to prevent wobble of the block and insure that the wire 15 is accurately located with respect to helix 12.

In Figs. 4, 5, are shown another embodiment of the invention in which a marking electrode 49 is tensioned 'by a spring 41 and is pressed into contact with multi turn helix 12 by another helix 42 carried by a drum 43. The helix 42 is in effect a helical cam which is driven in coordination with helix 12. Electrode has a wide base or backing 43 with a narrow marking element 44 centrally disposed thereon. Electrode 40 is flexible only in the plane including the axis of drum 11 and the linear element 43 and is rigid in all other planes. The helix 42 rotates at a speed which causes continuous travelling contact of element 44 with one turn of helix 12. The N-turn helix 12 is rotated at N times the line scanning speed as explained for Fig. 1 while the camming helix 42 is rotated at the line scanning speed. Thus the area of contact between electrode 40 and helix 12 travels the length of drum 11 once for each line recorded. In order to insure that the marking element is constrained to move in only one plane, a pair of rigid guides 45 and 46 may be provided as shown in Fig. 6. Marking element 44' is flexible only in the direction shown by the double pointed arrow. The electrode 40 may be an endless band or may be arranged on spools as shown in Fig. 1.

Instead of a second helix 42 one or more contact fingers 45 carried by base blocks 44 on an endless belt 24 may be employed to thrust electrode 40 into contact with multiturn helix 12 as shown in Figs. 7, 7A. In Fig. 7A contact fingers 45 are disposed on each side of the area of contact of electrodes 12, 40.

A pair of helical cams 42, 42" are shown in Fig. 8 carried by drum 43. These helices are disposed close together one on each side of the area of contact of multiturn helix 12 and electrode 40. This provides a resilient contact because of the length of electrode 40 disposed between the two supporting helices 42, 42". The flexible electrode 40 is arranged to pass continuously over pulleys 47, 48 between the helices.

In Fig. 9, a plurality of marking blades 49 are mounted on belt 24 and are brought into contact with helix 12 in succession. Each blade 49 is mounted on a resilient strip 51 fastened at one end to a block 59 attached to the belt 24. The driving mechanism M for belt 24 and drum 11 is arranged so that each marking blade electrode 49 moves the distance between sprocket wheels 25, 26 during each line recording cycle. Drum 11 has N turns and makes N revolutions during each cycle as explained above. The distance between sprocket wheels 25, 26 is longer than the pitch distance of N turns of helix 12. Each blade electrode 49'maintains continuous contact with one marking point on the helix 12 but the contact point on the blade'moves along the length of the blade. Thus one end of the blade electrode 49 contacts the helix 12 at position A and the opposite end of the blade contacts the helix at position B. 7

There is an essential diflerence between the turn select ing mechanisrnof Fig. 9 and that of the embodiments previously described. In the multi-blade electrode arrangement of Fig. 9 each electrode traverses the entire In the embodiments of Figs. 4 and 7 the flexible electrode 40 is stationary in the-direction of itslength and only its edge moves sinusoidally as it is pressed against the helix 12 by the camming element 42 or contact fingers 45. The linear electrodes 15 and 40 of Figs. 1 and 8 move only very slowly in the direction of their lengths during the marking period to renew the eroding marking edge. The actual motion of the marking edges of these flexible electrodes is substantially sinusoidal throughout the axial extent of the multiturn helix 12 as the flexible electrodes are thrust forward by trolley wheels 20, 21 Or camming elements 42', 42".

in all of the embodiments shown in Figs. 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, the N-turn helix 12 is rotated at N times the predetermined line recording speed, while the turn selecting elements move at the line recording speed. A suitable gearing mechanism may be provided to eflect the necessary coordination between the movements of the multiturn helix, the turn selecting elements, and the recording medium interposed between the marking electrodes.

I claim:

1. A recorder for marking a recording medium, comprising a helical electrode, means rotatably supporting .said electrode, a flexible electrode supported adjacent to said helical electrode, a member disposed in contact with a portion of said flexible electrode and pressing said portion into contact with the helical electrode, and means arranged to move the member and press successive portions of said flexible electrode into contact with the helical electrode during rotation of the helical electrode.

2. A recorder for marking a recording medium, comprising a multiturn helical electrode, means rotatably supporting said electrode, a flexible electrode supported adjacent to said helical electrode, a member disposed in contact with a portion of said flexible electrode and pressing said portion into contact with the helical electrode, and means arranged to move the member and press successive portions of said flexible electrode into contact with the helical electrode during rotation of the helical electrode with the recording medium disposed between the electrodes.

3. A recorder for marking a recording medium, comprising a multiturn helical electrode, means rotatably sup porting said electrode, an elongated flexible electrode supported adjacent to said helical electrode, a member disposed in contact with a portion of said flexible electrode and pressing said portion into contact with the helical electrode, means arranged to move the member and press successive portions of said flexible electrode into contact with the helical electrode during rotation of the helical electrode, and means driving said flexible electrode and. progressively advancing the flexible electrode in the direction of its length.

4. A recorder for marking a recording medium, com- 7 prising a multiturn helical electrode, means rotatably supporting said electrode, an elongated flexible electrode supported adjacent to said helical electrode, and means pressing successive portions of said flexible electrode into contact with the helical electrode during rotation of the helical electrode, said means comprising a member movable along and in contact with the flexible electrode.

5. A recorder for marking a recording medium, comprising a multiturn helical electrode, means rotatably supporting said electrode, an elongated flexible electrode supported adjacent to said helical electrode, and means pressing successive portions of said flexible electrode into contact with the helical electrode during rotation of the helical electrode, said means comprising a member movable along and in. contact with the flexible electrode, said member being a carrier including a pair of grooved wheels.

6. A recorder for marking a recording medium, comprising a multiturn helical electrode, means rotatably supporting said electrode, an elongated flexible electrode supported adjacent to said helical electrode, and means pressing successive portions of said flexible electrode into contact with the helical electrode during rotation of the helicalelectrode, said means comprising a member 5 movable along and in contact with the flexible electrode, said member being a block including a pair of arms having grooves for receiving said flexible electrode.

7. A recorder for marking a recording medium, com prising a multiturn helical electrode, means rotatably supporting said electrode, an elongated flexible electrode supported adjacent to said helical electrode, and means pressing successive portions of said flexible electrode into contact with the helical electrode during rotation of the helical electrode, .said means comprising a rotatable helix movable along and in contact with the flexible electrode.

8. A recorder for marking a recording medium, comprising a multiturn helical electrode, means rotatably supporting said electrode, an elongated flexible electrode supported adjacent to said helical electrode, and means pressing successive portions of said flexible electrode into contact with the helical electrode during rotation of the helical electrode, said means comprising a member including two closely spaced helices movable along and in contact with the flexible electrode.

9. A recorder for marking a recording medium, comprising a multiturn helical electrode, means rotatably supporting said electrode, an elongated flexible electrode supported adjacent to said helical electrode, and means pressing successive portions of said flexible electrode into contact with the helical electrode during rotation of the helical electrode, said means comprising a member mov able along and in contact with the flexible electrode, said member having a projecting element contacting the flexible electrode.

10. A recorder for marking a recording medium, comprising a multiturn helical electrode, means rotatably supporting said electrode, an elongated flexible electrode supported adjacent to said helical electrode, and means pressing successive portions of said flexible electrode into contact with the helical electrode during rotation of the helical electrode, said means comprising a member movable along and in contact with the flexible electrode, said member being a carrier including a pair of grooved wheels, said Wheels being constrained by a pair of stationary rails.

ll. A recorder for marking a recording medium, comprising a multiturn helical electrode, means rotatably supporting said electrode, an elongated flexible electrode supported adjacent to said helical electrode, and means pressing successive portions of said flexible electrode into contact with the helical electrode during rotation of the helical electrode, said means comprising a member movable along and in contact with the flexible electrode, said member being a block including a pair of arms having grooves for receiving said flexible electrode, said block being constrained by a pair of stationary rails.

12. A recorder for marking a recording medium, com prising a multiturn helical electrode, means rotatably supporting said electrode, an elongated flexible electrode supported adjacent to said helical electrode, and means pressing successive portions of said flexible electrode into contact with the helical electrode during rotation of the helical electrode, said means comprising a member movable along and in contact with the flexible electrode, said member having a projecting element contacting the flexible electrode, said projecting element being a freely rotatable wheel.

13. A recorder for marking a recording medium, comprising a multiturn helical electrode, means rotatably sup porting said electrode, an elongated flexible electrode supported adjacent to said helical electrode, and means pressing successive portions of said flexible electrode into contact with the helical electrode during rotation of the helical electrode, said means comprising a member movable along and in contact with the flexible electrode, said member having a projecting element contacting the flexible electrode, said projecting element being a contact finger rigidly mounted on said member.

14. A recorder for marking a recording medium, comprising a multiturn helical electrode, means rotatably supporting said electrode, an elongated flexible electrode supported adjacent to said helical electrode, and means pressing successive portions of said flexible electrode into contact with the helical electrode during rotation of the helical electrode, said means comprising a member movable along and in contact with the flexible electrode, said member being mounted on an endless belt movable in coordination with the rotatable helical electrode.

15. A recorder for marking a recording medium, comprising a multiturn helical electrode, means rotatably supporting said electrode, an elongated flexible electrode supported adjacent to said helical electrode, and means pressing successive portions of said flexible electrode into contact with the helical electrode during rotation of the helical electrode, said means comprising a member movable along and in contact with the flexible electrode, said flexible electrode being constrained to limit flexing to a plane including the axis of the helical electrode.

16. A recorder for marking a recording medium, cornprising a multiturn helical electrode, means rotatably supporting said electrode, an elongated flexible electrode supported adjacent to said helical electrode, and means pressing successive portions of said flexible electrode into contact with the helical electrode during rotation of the helical electrode, said means comprising a member movable aiong and in contact with the flexible electrode, said member having a projecting element contacting the flexible electrode, said projecting element being a contact finger rigidly mounted on said member, said flexible electrode being constrained by a relatively wide backing strip.

17. A recorder for marking a recording medium, comprising a multiturn helical electrode, means rotatably supporting said electrode, an elongated flexible electrode supported adjacent to said helical electrode, and means pressing successive portions of said flexible electrode into contact with the helical electrode during rotation of the helical electrode, said means comprising a member movable along and in contact with the flexible electrode, said member having a projecting element contacting the flexible electrode, said projecting element being a contact finger rigidly mounted on said member, said flexible electrode being constrained by a pair of stationary rails.

18. A recorder for marking a recording medium, comprising a helical electrode, means rotatably supporting adjacent to said helical electrode, a plurality of members disposed in contact with a portion or" said flexible electrode and pressing said portion into contact with the helical electrode, an endless belt carrying said members and pressing successive portions of said flexible electrode into contact with the helical electrode during rotation of the helical electrode, and means for driving said belt in coordination with rotation of the helical electrode.

19. A recorder for marking a recording sheet, comprising a multiturn helical electrode, means rotatably supporting said electrode, an elongated flexible electrode having a substantially straight linear section supported adjacent to said helical electrode, a member disposed in contact with a portion of said section and pressing one point of said portion into contact with a single point of the helical electrode, means arranged to move the member in coordination with rotation of the helical trode and press successive points of said flexible ectrode into contact with the helical electrode duri Q rotation of the helical electrode with the recording sheet disposed between the electrodes.

20. A recorder for marking a recording sheet, comprising a helical electrode, means rotatably supporting said electrode, flexible electrode having a substantially straight linear section spaced a predetermined distance from said helical electrode, a member disposed in contact with at least one point of said section and pressing said point into contact with a single point of the helical electrode, and means arranged to move the member so eleccl that the point of contact of the electrodes travels along said section substantially parallel to the axis of the heli cal electrode, whereby successive points of said flexible electrode are pressed into contact with the helical electrode during rotation of the helical electrode.

21. A recorder for marking a recording medium, comprising a curved electrode, means rotatably supporting said electrode, an elongated flexible electrode supported adjacent to said curved electrode, and means pressing successive portions of said flexible electrode into contact with the curved electrode during rotation of said curved electrode, said means comprising a member movable along and in contact with the flexible electrode.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

